News in brief - May 16, 2011

15% of nursing homes cited for poor infection control

Nearly one-sixth of U.S. nursing homes are cited for deficiencies in infection control, according to a May study published in the American Journal of Infection Control.

Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health analyzed records from 2000 to 2007 relating to the certification process nursing homes must accomplish before qualifying for payment from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

The study, based on records representing 96% of U.S. nursing homes, found that infection control citations were linked to lower nurse staffing levels (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21531271) . Nursing home infections kill 400,000 patients a year.

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More Connecticut physicians learning cultural awareness

A two-year campaign to better educate Connecticut physicians about the problems and causes of health disparities has led to more doctors attending training on the subject, says the Connecticut State Medical Society.

A survey of 525 of the state's physicians shows that 45% said the campaign has altered how they provide care.

A 2009 survey of 321 physicians found that 70% of respondents didn't know about continuing medical education opportunities in health disparities. The following year, the state mandated cultural awareness CME, and 55% of physicians in the 2011 survey said they had taken such training. As of May 5, more than 1,200 physicians had participated in the CSMS-offered training.

"Today, Connecticut physicians are far more aware of their responsibilities to provide culturally appropriate care to our diverse population," said CSMS President David S. Katz, MD.

The Connecticut Health Foundation is giving the medical society a $100,000 grant to develop health disparities training for residents and medical students.

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